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Seminole Insider

Staff

Welcome to The War Room. I'll begin this session with the ground rules. Everything that is reported in the War Room must stay in the War Room. That's the way this deal works. Sometimes the info is sensitive enough that it simply doesn't need to be passed outside the Tribal Council. This is a special feature for subscribers only. The reason why it is posted on the premium board is because it's the only way to ensure that the info stays is exclusive to Seminole Nation. That means not to post on the Rivals national message board or any message board outside of the Tribal Council. This will only work if everyone helps make it work.

Additional Note: Everything noted in this War Room comes from a reliable source but keep in mind that if we had it confirmed or if we had people go on the record it would be reported on our front page and not confined to the Tribal Council message board. That being said, what's in this War Room is more than just a rumor but it's not quite solid enough to be reported as fact. However, because we want to let our readers know what we are hearing we want to pass it along. Just keep in mind that we aren't trying to make a name for ourselves like the dozens of bloggers and Twitter folks that float every crazy rumor that comes around.Defensive coordinator Update (6pm)Heard from somebody close to Ellis Johnson (former South Carolina DC and former Southern Miss head coach) that he spoke with Jimbo Fisher over the past couple days. I've also been told that Johnson has a new position "locked up" but whether that position is the DC job at FSU remains to be seen.

It's probably safe to say that Johnson is likely on Fisher's short list of candidates for the DC opening.

Again, we expect something to come down regarding FSU's DC position pretty soon.

Georgia Tech - Staying in the ACC or leaving for the Big 10?
For a couple weeks now rumors have been running rampant that Georgia Tech might be leaving the ACC for the Big 10, and that it could happen quickly.

We mentioned in the last War Room that we have heard the same Georgia Tech rumblings and that they appeared to have more substance than your garden variety conference expansion/realignment rumors that dominate Twitter, message boards and fan blogs. Over this past weekend Georgia Tech flatly denied the rumors.

"There is no truth to the rumors," Tech spokesman Matt Nagel told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Acting athletic director Paul Griffin also told the AJC there has been "no communication (with the Big Ten), nor does he expect any."

Sorry, but not buying it.

We heard over the weekend and again on Monday from a source within Georgia Tech that the Big 10 has in fact extended an informal offer for the Yellow Jackets to join. Not only is there an offer but Georgia Tech is apparently on the verge of accepting. Like Maryland, Georgia Tech's athletic department is experiencing some financial shortcomings and see the Big 10 as a way to resolve many of these problems.

Furthermore, Tech has reportedly been in contact with John Swofford and other conference officials to see if there is anything they can offer to convince them to stay in the ACC.

While most signs point to something happening fairly quickly, it's impossible to put any kind of time line on when it might go down. It's possible that if the Big 10 is willing to wait, Georgia Tech will want to see how the lawsuit over Maryland's conference exit fee plays out before making a final decision. If Tech leaves what does that mean for the ACC, FSU and Clemson?
If Georgia Tech does leave for the Big 10 there's a good chance that another ACC school will join them. Half the ACC has been mentioned by the various conference rumor mills as potential candidates so it's difficult to say which school that might be. It could be that just Georgia Tech might be the only school to leave the ACC for now if they decide to move forward.

Regardless, the loss of Georgia Tech would be another huge blow to the conference.

From what we've been told a change like this would probably push Florida State and Clemson over the edge. Within the last week or so there has been serious talks within the administration about exploring options outside the ACC. FSU has also been in contact with Clemson to come up with a join exit plan should the ACC continue to collapse.

If Georgia Tech does bolt for the Big 10, I hear FSU and Clemson will get in touch with the Big 12 to begin negotiations. Both schools will also reach out to the SEC but whether there is enough interest, or enough votes to get past Florida's block, remains to be seen.

Also, if it does play out this way, and FSU and Clemson work out a deal with the Big 12 don't be surprised if there is an arrangement to add two more eastern schools down the road including Miami. One of the biggest concerns expressed by FSU president Eric Barron, and rightfully so, was that all of the schools in the Big 12 are outside FSU's geographic footprint. The addition of Clemson, and Miami and another eastern school down the road, would make a move to the Big 12 much more palatable for Florida State and Clemson. Having at least five Big 12 schools in the east (remember West Virginia) would make scheduling and travel much easier, and would mean a lot more alumni and boosters within FSU's footprint.

Comment: This is just speculation on my part but the best chance for FSU and Clemson to find their way into the SEC would be for the two schools to come close to a deal with the Big 12 and then give the SEC one last chance. The prospect of the Big 12 getting a major foothold in the heart of SEC country probably isn't too appealing to Mike Silve and the conference power brokers. Adding FSU and Clemson as the 15th and 16th schools would completely lock down the Southeast.Defensive coordinator search update
Everything we hear leads us to believe that a new defensive coordinator will be named soon, and possibly this week. In fact, we've been old that Fisher already has his man and it's just a matter of dotting the i's and crossing the t's.

We don't have a solid name yet but all signs point to the new DC having a more "aggressive" philosophy. That's a vague term in football speak but as good as Mark Stoops did turning around the defense, Fisher wants a defense that fully utilizes FSU's athletic superiority and one that can force more turnovers. As good as the defense was in 2012 (No. 2 in total defense) it forced just 19 turnovers in 13 games. To put that into perspective Florida forced 29 turnovers in just 12 games. To further point out the importance of forcing turnovers the schools ranked in the top 10 of the BCS rankings have forced an average of 27 turnovers (Oregon has a whopping 38!) and most of those teams only played 12 games.

In terms of names a new one that came to our attention is Bradley Dale Peveto who has been coaching at Northwestern State. He just opted not to return as the head coach last week which means he may have something in the hopper. Peveto coached special teams and linebackers with Fisher at LSU in 2005-06. He has some experience as a DC (Houston, Middle Tennessee and NW State).

Other names making the rounds include Bob Shoop who is the current DC at Vanderbilt, Geoff Collins the co-DC at Mississippi State, former Auburn head coach Gene Chizik, and former USF head coach Jim Leavitt. We have nothing to substantiate any of these coaches as legitimate candidates but are just names popping up in various coaching rumor mills.

We keep hearing there's a good chance the next DC will have some NFL experience. If that's the case it would narrow the list quite a bit.

A lot of people keep throwing out current defensive ends coach D.J. Eliot has a candidate for the DC opening. While anything is possible, we've heard nothing to back that up and from all indications Fisher wants to bring in someone with experience running a defense. Which assistants are staying, going?
As Warchant.com indicated on Sunday, it looks like James Coley will be staying on at Florida State. While Coley appears to be sticking around, everything points to at least one FSU assistant joining Mark Stoops at Kentucky.

During Stoops' Sunday press conference from Kentucky, he said that discussing names of any FSU coaches that might become part of his staff wouldn't be fair to the players back at Florida State. That's a pretty clear signal that he has at least one FSU coach targeted for his new staff.

The most likely candidates to join Stoops in Kentucky are D.J. Eliot and/or Greg Hudson. Eliot makes the most sense since he was effectively brought in to FSU by Stoops. The two coached together before FSU and Eliot has a working knowledge of what Stoops like to do defensively. The only possible negative is that Eliot has no experience as a defensive coordinator, if that's where Stoops wants him at. Not sure why he would leave FSU to coach without getting a promotion at Kentucky.

Greg Hudson on the other hand does have extensive experience running a defense both at East Carolina and Minnesota. However, the two did not have a working relationship before coming together at FSU.

There may be a third assistant coachin play for another job but it has nothing to do with Kentucky. Special teams coordinator and running back coach Eddie Gran is on the short list for the head coaching vacancy at Southern Miss. While he's probably not the top pick for the Golden Eagles we've been told that he is under serious consideration. If offered the position you would expect Gran to jump on it.

As with the defensive coordinator position at FSU, the situation with the assistant coaches will probably be settled in the near future.Fisher.... again
The rumors and "reports" continute to fly that Jimbo Fisher is a serious candidate for various head coaching vacancies. The hottest thing flying around is Fisher and the opening at Tennessee.

In talking to the publisher of VolQuest and others close to the program there's little doubt that FSU's 47-year old head coach is high on Tennessee's wish list. However, as we've been telling people for weeks it takes two to tango. We still hear nothing on this end other than that Fisher is totally focused in on FSU and has zero interest in any of the current openings. There is also nothing to back up the rumors that Fisher might be interviewing for the job any time soon.

Don't be surprised if Tennessee hires Butch Davis this week.

There are no absolutes when it comes to this stuff and situations can change over night. But we've done our due diligence in trying to look under every stone when it comes to the Jimbo Fisher rumors and there's simply nothing that we can find to lend any support to them.

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Walk-on

Gold Member

Seems to me, that with Maryland having left the conference, we have a new issue with regard to the buyout.

First, I don't accept that the conference can unilterially up the exit fee the way they did without the permission of the member schools. Similarly, I don't believe that Warchant tomorrow, could create an "exit" fee for subscribers.

That said, I think the argument is pretty good now though, that a school could leave the league and say the exit fee no longer applies, since the members of the conference are now different. I would take the position that the exit fee only applied, if at all, to the league that included Maryland, since really, all a conference is is, a union of schools anyway.

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Walk-on

Gold Member

There has been lots of talk about Hudson not returning whether he goes to UK or not. Maybe he goes and is still LB coach and Stoops has someone else in mind. Or Elliot and Hudson as Co-DC. Would be a bump for both and Stoops was probably still call the D at first.

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Freshman

Gold Member

Heard the same as Dot on conference issues from people involved, there is a lot being examined behind the scenes. The FSU perspective on staying in the ACC has changed dramatically from a year ago, but a good opportunity has to actually exist to make the move.

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Star Player

Gold Member

Not too excited about the prospect of hiring Hudson as DC.
Unimpressed with what he did as LB coach.

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I think Hudson's name was brought up in Dot's write up as a candidate to leave with Stoops and join him at Kentucky as their defensive coordinator not FSU's. I think you may have mis-read that. I don't think Hudson is a candidate for the job at FSU. If anyone leaves to go to Kentucky I'd rather it be Hudson than Eliot, although I'm not pulling for either of them to leave because I want some longevity in our coaching staff. If Stoops decides he wants an experienced defensive coordinator at Kentucky neither Hudson or Eliot may be going anywhere.. And I'd be ok if we retain both of them.

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Star Player

Gold Member

There is no reason to bring Miami with us to the Big 12. Miami is already in our footprint and we can play them as an OOC. Leaving them behind renders them a mid tier program at best long term and we need a team like that on our schedule. I say leave them behind and demand 2 home games for every 1 road game in return with Miami. They will have zero leverage on us if they are left behind in a depleted ACC.

The Big 12 should add Clumpson, and pick from UNC, VA tech, NC St and Louisville. The Nc and VA schools expand our footprint more than Miami does.

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Starter

Gold Member

Originally posted by NJNOLES:
There is no reason to bring Miami with us to the Big 12. Miami is already in our footprint and we can play them as an OOC. Leaving them behind renders them a mid tier program at best long term and we need a team like that on our schedule. I say leave them behind and demand 2 home games for every 1 road game in return with Miami. They will have zero leverage on us if they are left behind in a depleted ACC.

The Big 12 should add Clumpson, and pick from UNC, VA tech, NC St and Louisville. The Nc and VA schools expand our footprint more than Miami does.

Click to expand...

The Big XII currently has a 9 game conference schedule. If that were to continue, we would not keep both UF and UM on the OOC schedule. UM would likely get dumped.

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Star Player

Gold Member

Why did you just quote some Tech spokesman from Friday and not the Tech president who gave direct comments/answers on Saturday night? His remarks were also in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution:

Georgia Tech president G.P. "Bud" Peterson met reports and rumors about the school leaving the ACC for the Big Ten head on Saturday night.

"Not true. Not true," Peterson said prior to the ACC Championship game. "We're happy in the ACC. We're staying."

Internet and radio reports cited unnamed sources or repeated rumors that the school will follow Maryland out of the ACC and to the Big Ten, one reporting that the school will hold a news conference Monday to announce its departure.

"We're not going anywhere," said Peterson, speaking outside his suite at Bank of America Stadium.

This is straight from the horses mouth. Do you think that he is lying?

Star Player

Gold Member

I don't really understand the Hudson conundrum. On the one hand, there is no way apparently he'll be the new DC, which is fine, but if Jimbo really feels that way about him, what is the appeal to Stoops?

Regardless, I am not an expert, but the LBs were pretty poor this year which is odd because in the last couple years I thought they were pretty good. Against UF and Clemson especially they were lost.

Ellis Johnson was notably absent from the DC list. Any reason why? Aside from Leavitt, he's probably the guy I am most interested in.

I actually think Butch Davis is a great hire for Tennessee. You ain't gonna win in the SEC if you aren't getting your hands dirty. His reputation is 'soiled', sure, but for as bad as his rep is, he did sorta clean Miami up, relative to how they were before his arrival. Dude is proven. Can recruit the lights out which is really what Tennessee needs. He has loads of contacts. I think he learned his lesson at UNC.

Please God let the SEC thing happen. As much as I'd want Clemson to come with us if we did end up in the SEC, I hope we aren't attached with them at the hip at the same time. If they wanted us and NCSU or us and UNC or us an Va Tech I hope we'd pull the trigger.

Still not convinced 16 is the magic number for the B1G either. I think UVA, UNC, Duke and Ga Tech all end up there, just my opinion.

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Gold Member

Originally posted by Shawn7711:
So...with the threat of the conference falling apart could that force the renegotiation of the current tv deal?

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Most likely, especially with ND joining for 5 conference games and Louisville joining full-time.

ESPN does NOT want the ACC to break up. The issue is that they are the only bidder. If ESPN and NBC were both fighting to bid on the ACC, then we'd have a better chance at getting a bigger deal. That's why they wait until NBC's deal runs out and use ND as leverage to bid on the whole ACC in my opinion.

As for the DC...i don't see how Hudson gets the job. Doesn't seem possible.

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Freshman

Gold Member

Why did you just quote some Tech spokesman from Friday and not the Tech president who gave direct comments/answers on Saturday night? His remarks were also in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution:

Georgia Tech president G.P. "Bud" Peterson met reports and rumors about the school leaving the ACC for the Big Ten head on Saturday night.

"Not true. Not true," Peterson said prior to the ACC Championship game. "We're happy in the ACC. We're staying."

Internet and radio reports cited unnamed sources or repeated rumors that the school will follow Maryland out of the ACC and to the Big Ten, one reporting that the school will hold a news conference Monday to announce its departure.

"We're not going anywhere," said Peterson, speaking outside his suite at Bank of America Stadium.

This is straight from the horses mouth. Do you think that he is lying?

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It is just like every other team that has left for a new conference in the past few years and further beyond. They always deny the rumors until the time comes to announce they have reached an agreement with the new conference. Haven't you learned that yet?

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Gold Member

alright guys, out of all of the names listed (both the hotboard and this update) for the DC position, who has NFL experience? If that nugget about the person likely having NFL experience turns out to be accurate, than we should be able to trim the list down with some forensic work.

I, for one have no clue, but I know some of you are quite familiar with coaching trees.

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Walk-on

Gold Member

It would be absolutely hilarious if GT joined the B1G, if FSU and Clemson left then the whole shebang would fall apart. Let the North Carolina schools have their basketball conference. One thing is for sure our future ain't in the ACC.

Seminole Insider

Staff

Why did you just quote some Tech spokesman from Friday and not the Tech president who gave direct comments/answers on Saturday night? His remarks were also in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution:

Georgia Tech president G.P. "Bud" Peterson met reports and rumors about the school leaving the ACC for the Big Ten head on Saturday night.

"Not true. Not true," Peterson said prior to the ACC Championship game. "We're happy in the ACC. We're staying."

Internet and radio reports cited unnamed sources or repeated rumors that the school will follow Maryland out of the ACC and to the Big Ten, one reporting that the school will hold a news conference Monday to announce its departure.

"We're not going anywhere," said Peterson, speaking outside his suite at Bank of America Stadium.

This is straight from the horses mouth. Do you think that he is lying?

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There are dozens of stories out there with quotes on this subject. My point is that GT is adamantly denying the rumors. This is just another story that says the same thing I was pointing out.

I'm not calling anybody a liar, nice try. That being said I've been dealing with administrators at schools like this and its their job to spin what is going on to put the school the most favorable PR light. No way GT is going to do anything but deny this stuff until a deal is signed, sealed and delivered.

For an example, back in 2007 an LSU administrator flat out told me on the record that Jimbo Fisher had never spoken to FSU, was 100% locked into LSU and that I was making things up by suggesting that he was the top candidate for FSU's OC opening. A couple days later Fisher was hired for the position.

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Walk-on

Gold Member

Hudson should be the last choice based on how the LBs played this yr. I think we get somebody who has NFL experience (instant credibility with recruits & current players) and is an agressive DC. Easier said than done but , from what I am reading, I think Jimbo is looking for someone of this ilk.

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My thoughts exactly..if the GT pres is hedging, he needs to go back to school and learn how to hedge. I take it they are not going to the Big. Lets keep the ACC together and start beating the SEC when we have the chance.Posted from wireless.rivals.com[/URL]

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Originally posted by NJNOLES:
There is no reason to bring Miami with us to the Big 12. Miami is already in our footprint and we can play them as an OOC. Leaving them behind renders them a mid tier program at best long term and we need a team like that on our schedule. I say leave them behind and demand 2 home games for every 1 road game in return with Miami. They will have zero leverage on us if they are left behind in a depleted ACC.

The Big 12 should add Clumpson, and pick from UNC, VA tech, NC St and Louisville. The Nc and VA schools expand our footprint more than Miami does.

Click to expand...

The Big XII currently has a 9 game conference schedule. If that were to continue, we would not keep both UF and UM on the OOC schedule. UM would likely get dumped.

Click to expand...

The conundrum for the Big 12 is they really only want to go to 12 schools by adding FSU and Clemson. Also, the fewer the teams the more revenue for the Sugar Bowl starting in 2014. The carrot for FSU is 8 conference games with 12 teams and they can keep regional games for the 4 OOC. Or go to 14 teams with 9 conference games PLUS the SEC rival game with Florida.

I also have heard that the Big12/SEC would work a "scheduling agreement" if the Big 12 expands east. It would benefit both TV packages. I also continue to hear that the SEC will not add in existing states (per B12 source). Who knows on that, though...

It should be interesting. Best news, if FSU leaves the ACC you are looking at a minimum of $10M more annually by joining the Big 12.

With 12 teams the divisions could be the following to allow "easier travel" for the SE schools:

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Star Player

Gold Member

You're crazy of you think that ESPN gave us a contract that allowed us to demand the ability to negotiate bases on replacing Md with Louisville. I'm sure there are renegotiation triggers, but they're written in ESPN's favor. And, it doesn't just let the conference run ba to the open market.

ND and NBC will negotiate ND's television rights, not the ACC's. I bet that happens very soon after the season since NDis in the MNC game.